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TIGI World Release 2007

In true show-stopping style, TIGI entertained, educated and inspired more than 4,000 hair and beauty aficionados from North America, Europe, Australia and Asia who were lucky enough to land a ticket to TIGI World Release 2007. Staged at Las Vegas' Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, the sold-out educational event took place in September.

After TIGI's Bruno, Anthony and Guy Mascolo and Thomas Reasonover welcomed the crowd, the morning session kicked into high gear with plenty of cutting-edge hair. Anthony and the TIGI International Artistic Team unveiled Instinctive, an edgy collection pairing cuts with new TIGI Colour, and wowed the crowd with voluminous manes and sexy styles created with Catwalk and S-Factor products.

The afternoon session was equally exhilarating, thanks to a special concert by rock band Drive A. The momentum continued with a stunning segment showcasing avant-garde couture hair creations and a lively presentation featuring male models clad in athletic gear, while sporting hairdos courtesy of the new Bed Head for Men line. For the grand finale, TIGI presented Illusion, an evening show that fused magic acts with models whose hair was out of this world. "Everything that you've seen here proves that TIGI is more than just a retail company," said Bruno, TIGI's chairman and CEO. "It's visionary, inspiring and it's building the hairdressers' passions and creativity, ensuring that clients leave the salon with the best possible services." —K.D.

Still the Same

The addition of PureOlogy Serious Colour Care to the L'Oréal Professional Products Division under Redken management in May marked the union between a forward-thinking brand and a company committed to maintaining superior products sold only in salons. Pat Parenty, senior vice president and general manager for Redken and PureOlogy, wants to assure hairdressers that the company hasn't changed a thing in terms of PureOlogy's formula, production or distribution. "We are treating this period as an evolution, not a revolution," he said. What you may have noticed is that the order in which the ingredients are listed on the packaging has changed, but that decision was made prior to the acquisition in order to comply with the International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredients Standards, which require ingredients to be listed in the order of concentration level. "The formulas are the same," stressed Parenty. "Only the language used to list ingredients has changed." —M.D.

Pat Parenty

OPI Celebrates in Moscow

OPI recently launched its 2007–2008 fall/winter Russian Collection for nails and lips in the legendary Yar restaurant in Moscow. More than 250 people attended the event, including editors from Russian Cosmopolitan, Glamour, InStyle and Vogue, top salon directors and managers and students from professional beauty schools. The event included a two-hour presentation of the new OPI products and Russian dancers in costumes who entertained the audience. "In this elegant setting, which so beautifully evokes Russia's aristocratic past, the Russian Collection really comes alive," said George Schaeffer, OPI president and CEO. "We're looking forward to these colors of modern opulence being as successful around the world as they are in the country that inspired them." —N.P.

NIOXIN Supports Business in South Africa

Nioxin, a brand dedicated to scalp treatments that improve the appearance of thinning hair, expanded its territory to South Africa by holding several seminars there in 2007. Eva Graham, the founder and chairman of Nioxin Research Laboratories, led the seminar's opening, followed by Thomas Curzio, international lecturer for Nioxin. The tutorials educated salon owners and staff on Nioxin's technology and products, including the Glyco-Color Shield, a scalp protectant that preserves haircolor. The seminars reached a total of 417 people in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Durbin and Johannesburg. Cancer survivor and advocate Samantha Galliet was also in attendance to share her personal story of recovery, and she credited Nioxin for helping her regenerate the appearance of her hair after chemotherapy. —A.L.

NovaLash CEO Wins Honors

Sophy Merszei, founder and CEO of NovaLash Corporation, recently won the 2007 Cosmetic Innovator of the Year award from Independent Cosmetic Manufacturers and Distributors (ICMAD). NovaLash claims to be the only company committed to formulating and producing lash products that are AEWCA-approved, made in alignment with FDA regulations and tested for safety and purity. Merszei's educational experience as a molecular biologist and cosmetic chemist motivated her to create a company led by optometrists, physicians and research scientists dedicated not only to creating a high-end look but also to ensuring the safety of their eyelash extension products. —A.L.

FROM LEFT: ICMAD President David Schieffelin, NovaLash President Sophy Merszei, CITY Awards Presenter Sam Brocato

Joico on Glam Patrol

Everyone's out to look their best during awards season. That's why Joico and The Silver Spoon teamed up at the star-studded pre-Emmy Penthouse, where Joico experts dished out styling tips and plenty of K-PAK haircare products before the big day arrived. Anthony Morrison, Joico artist and winner of Bravo's Shear Genius, was there, standing by with plenty of healthy hair tips, plus gift bags stocked with three of the company's essential glam-getting goodies: K-PAK Shampoo and Conditioner and the brand-new Split Ends Mender. —C.W.

Joico's Anthony Morrison (right), with Neil Patrick Harris of the CBS show How I Met Your Mother

PureOlogy Helps Green the Emmys

This year's Emmy Awards was an eco-friendly event, with a red carpet made of recycled plastic bottles and A-list celebrities arriving in—no surprise—hybrid and alternative-fueled cars. For the second year, PureOlogy was the official haircare sponsor of The Green Living Lifestyle Eco Lounge and Spa in Los Angeles during the week leading up to the event. Celebrities from top shows like Grey's Anatomy, Entourage and The Office were treated to one of three Pure Experience customized styling consultations by PureOlogy National Artistic Team members Wendy Belanger and Angel del Solar, as well as a gift bag that corresponded to the experience they received. —C.W.

PureOlogy National Artistic Team member Wendy Belanger with Entourage star Perrey Reeves

Farouk Dazzles at the Emmys

Shauky Gulamani, president of Farouk Systems Group, featured the $1 million CHI Diamond Ceramic Hairstyling Iron at a gifting suite at the Emmy Awards, and also at the Teen Choice Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards. The invitation-only events were attended by Jessica Alba, Paula Abdul, Molly Sims, Sophia Bush and Eve. —C.W.

Matrix Donates $175K to AIDS Foundation

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) has adopted Matrix as its official haircare sponsor. The haircare brand donated $175,000 to help prevent pediatric AIDS around the globe. Launching this new partnership in October, Matrix served as the title-sponsor for the 9th Annual EGPAF Celebrity Golf Classic in Los Angeles. Committed to stopping this disease, Matrix is donating a portion of the proceeds from its holiday gift sets to the foundation. "We've come a long way since 1988. But still, in the developing world, approximately one child every minute of every day becomes infected with HIV—that's 1,500 children daily," said Pamela W. Barnes, president and CEO of the EGPAF. —A.L.

Support The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation by buying these special, limited-edition sets.

Joico Styles Models at Miss Sixty/Energie Opening in Atlanta

When Miss Sixty/Energie opened their newest location in Atlanta, the company called Joico to coif their models' manes. Joico sent its Artistic Educator Chad Demchuck and Advisor Arlene Embola to produce their hippie-inspired, "messy but sophisticated" Miss Sixty style. Embola credits Joico's K-PAK Protect and Shine Serum for adding suppleness and shine to the hair of the female models, while I-C-E Hair Finisher Shaping Hair Spray held the men's tresses firm enough to withstand wardrobe changes. —A.L.

Models styled by Joico at the Miss Sixty/Energie opening

ERGO Launches Beauty Mission

ERGO is spreading its knowledge to Africa with its Beauty Without Boundaries program. From January 2–11, five ERGO team members will teach basic hairstyling skills to 18 young adults in Rwanda and Kenya. Each student involved with the program will take home a set of styling tools to help advance their careers. "I am proud that these very busy people have joined ERGO for the special purpose of extending our hands and the power of beauty to these young adults. We feel that giving the skills of hairdressing is a way to allow the development of a beautiful future for these future leaders," ERGO President Robert Reed says. ERGO will close its offices January 2–12 but will reopen on January 14. —A.L.

Beauty Without Boundaries team member and volunteer Sara Tomich (second from left), from Redken 5th Avenue, in Africa.